Hello Minions!

I got a little over-excited, so here is the next chapter!

Because I am a nice writer.

=)

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

If Gajeel had not been paying attention, he would've missed the angry noise in the distance. The river was not that far and he expected his little watchman to return a long time ago. He knew she would try to run, but he felt confident the river was cold enough and his horse capable of retrieving her. Pantherlily was a better warden than most of his men, embarrassingly enough.

He stood at the edge of the wood where she had left through and attempted to search the dark woods for them.

Be kind, give her space, he reminded himself.

He returned to the blazing fire where Rogue had prepared a thick stew. The girl would not help him if he didn't at least try. Compared to past experiences, he was willing to take Juvia's advice.

A brief scream jerked his and his men's attention to the woods. Something had happened.

He dropped the tin dish of food and broke into a sprint towards the river. A handful of his men joined him, Juvia among them. They reached the lit watercourse, Gajeel whistling for his horse to return to the shore. The blunette was not on the other end of the manacles and he cursed under his breath, searching the deceptively calm river.

He leapt atop his horse, kicking him into a gallop when he spotted her cream colored tunic much farther downstream. Her body was caught in the swirling eddies, pulling her under the surface. He cursed loudly when Lily swerved away from the river to avoid a collision with the trees. Gajeel forced him back to the shore, egging him to jump into the coursing water. It was deeper than what he expected and much colder. The shock from the cold had him sputtering when the level reached his waist, Lily barely able to keep his head above the water.

Her body drifted nearby and he managed to grab her, pulling her head above surface. Her skin had taken on a frightening shade of blue and her lips where purple. He jerked the horse's head back towards shore and spurred him to swim across the strong current.

"C'mon Lil'," he spoke through clenched teeth. The horse's hooves made contact on the riverbed.

They reached the rocky shoreline and Gajeel slid off the beast with the girl over his shoulder. He laid her flat on her back, not feeling any movement from her. He put his ear to her chest, listening to the water slosh in her lungs. He pinched her nose and forced his breath in her body. He sat back and placed his hands over her diaphragm, pushing upward. He locked lips with her again, forcing air into her lungs. Still no response.

"C'mon girl, breathe," he encouraged. He put his ear to her chest, listening to her heartbeat falter.

He placed his lips over hers again, forcing another breath into her. She moved under him, and she coughed when he pulled away. She barely turned aside in time to expel the river water from her body. He felt nothing but relief when held her body and head up from slumping into the sand, giving her time to regain the oxygen she needed. She was alive.

Her body shook violently in his hold, and she was unable to give voice to the fact that she couldn't move. Her mind was still trapped in the icy water prison and she was powerless against the waves of dizziness.

His horse grunted at the approach of Juvia.

"Gajeel, I sent the men back to camp,"

He picked the little woman up in his arms, holding her tight against his chest when she started to cough and her teeth chatter.

"Good. See if you can't find a spare set of clothes," he spoke as he walked past his companion.

Juvia took the reins of Pantherlily and followed. She eyed the river and looked towards the opposite bank. She had already seen the dark haired man emerge from the river, and now he watched them from a distance in the trees. Something inside her quieted her loyalty to her friend as she did not bring up his presence. She hoped he would follow them, if for only the reason to see him again.

Gajeel broke into the camp space, his men greeting him with worried glances and silence.

"Cobra! Set a fire here," he barked. The purple haired bandit stood and followed his order, taking a lit branch from a nearby campfire and gathering an armful of dried bracken.

Gajeel crouched to enter the small cave that was his shelter and set the girl on the ground near his bedding. Cobra established the new campfire near the mouth of the cave, close enough to fill the space with heat, but far enough to allow the smoke to drift away. The fire warmed Gajeel to the point of discomfort, but the girl still shivered, her lips still tinted dark purple. He looked outside the cave, searching for Juvia to hurry with her clothes. The girl before him pitched forward, and he held her upright by her shoulders. Things weren't going to go well if she stayed wrapped in her wet clothes. He didn't know what else he could do.

He removed his damp linen shirt and tossed it aside. He retrieved his heavy cloak from beside his armor and clipped it around the shaking girl. He pulled the fabric closed around her, but reached inside, pulling her clothing down from her thin shoulders. He saw her processing his actions, and she tried to push his hands away, still shivering uncontrollably. He tried to give her the dignity of his cloak, to shield her from wandering eyes, but she still fought him.

"Quit movin'. I ain't gonna hurt ya'," he growled, "Ya can't stay in yer clothes. You'll freeze."

She closed her eyes and he continued uninhibited as his fingers rubbed against her clammy flesh. He was polite, and did not look. He knew she wouldn't want him to. If the circumstances had been different, he would have felt differently about touching the expanse of her yielding skin. But they weren't and she needed heat. He managed to peel away her clothes and toss them towards wherever his shirt landed.

He pulled the hood up over her head, covering her blue hair and her eyes flew open when he lifted her bare bottom to sit on the bedding. She clenched the opening to the cloak shut, becoming increasingly aware of just how naked she was with this man, and still doing her best to remain upright on her own.

He untied the knot that held his riding pants up and he moved to lay behind the cloaked girl. If he could keep her between the fire and himself, then she would have a chance to survive the night. He drew a blanket out from under them and layered it over himself after he kicked his britches off. She was such a slight bundle and he turned her to face him, pulling her to lay down.

"I promise I won't hurt ya'," he spoke in a soothing baritone.

He laid his arm out for her as a makeshift pillow. She took him up on his promise and laid against him as reluctantly as she could. He spread the blanket over the both of them and he tried to concentrate on something other than her petite form lying so close to him.

Levy was starting to feel much better and she could feel the tangible heat that he radiated through the cloth. Her body demanded that she come to reason. Her mind told her not to touch, but she reached her hand out anyway, needing at least a little more warmth that he could provide.

And she wasn't disappointed. The moment she rested her hand over his heart, delicious heat spread up her arm. She gave a light gasp at the sensation and entirely forgot her shame and modesty. She pressed herself flush against his open skin, wrapping her leg around his waist. She couldn't find it in herself to stop what she was doing.

"Sh-shit shrimp!" he cursed under his breath.

He coughed to hide the sudden shiver that traveled up his spine when the tops of her frozen feet pressed against his thighs. He was at a loss as to what he was supposed to do now. He didn't expect her to react so...willingly. But damn was she cold.

He placed his hands uncertainly against her back, earning a pleased hum from the blunette. She still shivered, but less violently now. He rubbed her back over his long cloak in broad strokes, conveying more heat to her with the friction. Her breathing mellowed out and she was able to draw in smooth breaths. Her body relaxed and she did not pull away from him. She closed her tired eyes and mumbled something unintelligible against his chest.

"What?" he whispered, looking down at her hooded head.

"Mm-name's Levy," she repeated as she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

When he was certain she was truly asleep, he responded.

"Kurogane. I'm Prince Kurogane."